Explorer II on NATO strap: Adrian Barker

...Rolex Snow Shot of the Day...

Rolex Explorer II on NATO 
[Reference 226570]

Wristwatch-YouTuber Adrian Barker has been snowboarding in Zermatt, Switzerland, recently. His latest video shows his Explorer II Polar dial on a NATO strap. The NATO straps are sold by his own company, Bark & Jack. 

As a Rolex purist, I usually don't much care for Rolex sans Oyster bracelet. But I have to admit, Adrian has done it. This looks real cool! 

Jannik Wins the Australian Open...

Jannik Wins the Australian Open

Rolex has been a proud sponsor of the Australian Open Tennis Tournament since 2008, which ironically is the same year I started Jake's Rolex World. Today, Jannik won the Men's Singles Championship, which represents the first time he won this highly coveted title. 

When Jannik was signed by Rolex, in early 2020, the 18-year-old Italian tennis player had never reached past the second tour of any Grand Slam tournament. But on Sunday, Jannik lifted the trophy with a Rolex Submariner on his wrist -- that's showing Rolex's knack for discovering future talents!

Pro skier Lindsey Vonn and Jannik Sinner

Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona

...Rolex Studio Shot of the Day...

The Daytona's Daytona 
2024 [Reference 126503]

Rolex has released an image of this year’s specially engraved Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona watch, which will be presented to the winners of each class at this weekend’s Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona. As it is customary for that race, Rolex presents a two-tone — a so-called Yellow Rolesor — model to the winners. The watch is not only accompanied by a very special box but also engraved on the case back with the Rolex 24 Daytona logo and the word "WINNER"

Queen Camilla Wears Rolex Turquoise OP

When a Queen
Rocks a Rolex

Queen Camilla Tries on

a Turquoise-blue-dial OP

Rolex is a brand that has long been inspired by and associated with Royalty—even the Rolex Coronet itself is in the form of a Royal Crown. Back in the 1920s, during the art-deco era, Rolex made models like the Rolex King, Queen, Prince and Princess, and later in the early 1960s even came out with the King Midas. The Rolex logo below is from 1934 and showcases the original first generation Rolex Coronet Crown, which was obviously symbolic of Royalty.

Someone's allocated OP was worn by a queen. Britain's Queen Camilla tried on a 31mm Oyster Perpetual with the beautiful turquoise-blue dial on Monday during her visit to a Rolex authorized dealer in Swindon, England ... the latest sign of the power of that dial color in the Rolex collection.

A crown for a queen (Photo credit: Getty)

We're told she went to the 175-year-old family-run jeweler not to shop for a Rolex but to bring in a vintage Breitling for repairs. Still, Queen Camilla seemed interested in all things watches ... checking out vintage pieces and taking a tour of the sixth-generation workshop, where she spoke to a young female watchmaker. 

Also in attendance was Deacon & Son's manager director Richard Deacon and, of course, Richard de Leyser, the CEO of Rolex UK, seen below, who had been briefed of her visit.

(Photo credit: Getty)

(Photo credit: Getty)

Queen Camilla didn’t pull the trigger on the Tiffany-dial OP, we’re told... that could be a future gift idea for King Charles III. After all, Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. 

A Rolex Royal Family

Rolex leadership has always been fascinated with royalty, and featured many different Rolex watches with names like The Rolex King Midas, The Rolex Queen, The Rolex Prince, and The Rolex Princess. Former Rolex CEO, André-Jean Heiniger is pictured with the future King of England, who is speaking to Gérard Souham (left), an advertising executive and former CEO of J. Walter Thompson, Paris branch. 

Photo appears courtesy of S3C Collection

In the photo above, the four gentlemen are discussing the Rolex King Midas model, of which King Charles has owned a special version of for many years.

Former Rolex CEO, André Heiniger is pictured again above with his wife Odette Heiniger, Colonel Gerard Leigh and King Charles at the Guards Polo Club in Windsor, U.K.

All four of Queen Elizabeth's children have worn Rolex watches, according to our research, as well as some of her grandchildren. King Charles' son, Prince Harry of Wales, below, is seen rocking a Rolex Explorer II "Orange Hand" while serving as a helicopter pilot in Afghanistan.

Prince Harry is pictured below at a Polo match in Sentebale with legendary car racing legend, Sir Jackie Stewart, and Rolex Global Director of Communication and Image Arnaud Boetsch.

Prince Harry, in the photo below, is checking out Arnaud Boetsch's Rolex. Before joining Rolex, Arnaud Boetsch was a top ranked professional tennis player.

Rolex Submariner 16613 Printed Ad

...1990s Rolex Printed Ad...

Rolex Submariner 

1996 [Reference 16613]

As we mark 70 years of the Rolex Submariner in 2024, we'll celebrate the world's most iconic watch in these pages. Read about — and watch — the time the Submariner made its movie debut here. David Doubilet is considered to be one of greatest underwater photography innovators, and has been a Rolex Ambassador for 4 decades now.

Martin Scorsese Leading Hollywood Director

...Rolex Super Coolness...

Martin Scorsese
Breaking Oscars Record
Academy Award Winning Director
Nominated — Again! — for Best Director
'Killers of the Flower Moon'

Congratulations to Martin Scorsese for his Oscars nomination for Best Director and Best Film for "Killers of the Flower Moon," setting a director record among living filmmakers. He is now the most nominated living movie director.

Martin Scorsese is not only one of the greatest directors in history, he is also a Rolex Ambassador, who has participated in the Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative. In the photo below we see Martin Scorsese wearing his Rolex Day-Date.

Martin Scorsese has directed some of the most classic and seminal films in a career that has spanned six decades. This list of profound films includes Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, The Color of Money, Cape Fear, Good Fellas, Casino, The Aviator, Gangs of New York, The Departed, Hugo, The Irishman, The Wolf of Wall Street and Killers of the Flower Moon.

Martin Scorsese's films have received more than 80 Academy Award nominations, of which they have won 20, including Best Director. He has 10 Best Director nominations, surpassing Steven Spielberg who has nine. Scorsese has won that category just once with The Departed.  

The video below of Martin Scorsese shows him wearing his Day-Date while talking about who inspired him to be a movie director:

This next video features a conversation with Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola:

Hunters of the Deep: Rolex Submariner's First Movie Appearance

A Note from Jake: This is a really exciting story from our Captain Danny, and it's particularly on-point as 2024 represents the 70th Anniversary of Rolex's official launch of their now super iconic Rolex Submariner. As a matter of fact, throughout 2024 we will be hopping in the Rolex Time Machine and taking a fascinating look back at the Genesis of the Submariner and explore previously undocumented Rolex history.

FOUND: THE  FIRST ROLEX

 SUBMARINER'S MOVIE DEBUT

THE OLDEST MOVIE FEATURING

A ROLEX SUBMARINER

'HUNTERS OF THE DEEP' 

(1954)

The Rolex Submariner was featured in a movie for the first time in 1954, in Ben Chapman's “Hunters of the Deep,” a full two years before “The Silent World” by Jacques Cousteau. The discovery was first made by Nick Gould.

The documentary, which features for the first time on camera the most iconic Rolex ever made, was narrated by actor and Oscar nominee Dan O'Herlihy (Robinson Crusoe). 

Excerpt: A second check on pressure regulators, on the depth gauges, on the underwater wristwatches — ‘Rolex Oysters’ they're called for the ability to stand tremendous undersea pressures. Time is vital since each tank is equivalent to just 30 minutes under water. But 10 minutes of this must be saved for the trip back to surface as the diver gradually depressurizes...

“Hunters of the Deep” tracks several oceanographers and geologists during their intrepid explorations of the deep sea around the coast of Southern California and Mexico. The 1-hour-4-minute full feature can be watched on most streaming services including YouTube.

Jake's Take

Our Captain Danny surprised me with his brilliant story seen above based upon superb detective work done by Nick Gould. When I shared the article with Nick Gould he responded by saying: "You know how I found that documentary? This ad. See No.6 😉" Nick also quipped "The interesting thing is in 54 was advertised as the Frogman. Then in 55 was Skindiver."

Since the subject of the movie was from 1954, it naturally made me think about an article I posted earlier this month, which seems to be perfectly on-point. Thus I added it below:

 

The Hunt For The Earliest Submariner Ad

1954 Rolex Submariner Ad

If you are a regular reader of Jake's Rolex World, you know I am working a series of books that cover the entire history of Rolex. One of the subjects I cover in great detail in the books is the genesis of the Rolex Submariner which remains one of the most icon watches in history. In particular, I am fascinated with the really early Rolex Submariner advertisements. 

Above we see a very early ad that was originally published in the Tampa Morning Tribune on November 25, 1954, and it is filled with all kinds of fascinating detail, including the fact the first Rolex Submariner retailed for $150!?!?!?!

Also, we see the correct pronunciation of "Sub-Marine", which means the model was correctly pronounced Sub-Marine-er. Below is the upcoming book cover of the volume that goes into great detail on the origins of the Rolex Submariner:

Perpetual Planet

Perpetual Planet

Rolex founder Hans Wilsdorf used the world as a testing ground for his watches, supporting explorers who ventured into the unknown. Rolex continues his legacy but with a new mission to help make the planet Perpetual by supporting those who protect the oceans, study the effects of climate change and create a more sustainable world. Rolex stands behind the scientists, explorers and visionaries who will spark the imagination of future generations – for the sake of a Perpetual Planet.

In 2005, Cristina Mittermeier coined the term “conservation photography”, which she has championed ever since. Today, through stunning visual storytelling paired with scientific knowledge, she is an unwavering voice for protecting our natural world. She has gained international recognition for her powerful pictures, which tell the ocean’s story, drawing attention to its fragility. 

1926 Rolex Oyster Advertisement...

1926 Rolex Oyster Advertisement

Rolex invented and patented the first waterproof watch in 1926 and Hans Wilsdorf named it the Rolex Oyster. Today we take waterproof watches for granted, but in 1926 it was a completely revolutionary invention.

The objective with creating a waterproof watch originally was not to make a watch you could swim or take a shower or bath with, but a watch that was completely impervious to all elements. You see, prior to the invention of the Rolex Oyster, watches used to literally rot from the inside out. This would occur because things like humidity, perspiration, grease, dust, dirt, water and oil would get into the watch case and gunk it up.

Also, by allowing air molecules to easily get inside the case, it would dry out the lubrication oil much faster. In the 1920s and 1930s, Rolex would showcase their watches in Authorized Rolex Dealer's windows, but putting the watches on display in fishtanks with real fish to show-off the waterproofness.

The Following Rolex illustration is from 1926: